Before Ruth was born, I was one of those parents who dissed the idea of ever needing a baby carrier. Heck, I was so darn confident that I would never need to ‘wear my baby to sleep”. Was so optimistic that I could leave Ruth in the cot and there, it’s done. She’s knocked out. But boy, was I so wrong.

Till today, at 6.5 months, Ruth still struggles with falling asleep by herself though we’ve tried the CIO method and positive sleep associations. But one of the ways that she’d fall asleep within 20 minutes (okay, most of the time) is when we put her in our cloth carrier and rock her to sleep. And it helps to soothe her when she’s crying too. Yes, it’s not the best way to get her used to sleep on her own, but after hours of struggling to put her down for her nap, you get desperate. And frankly, the carrier also helps when we head out for an entire day. Ruth’s able to just nap in the carrier whilst we go about our errands. It’s really not that bad an idea. You’ll be relatively hands-free, too.

So if you’re a new parent or an expecting parent, do yourself a favour and buy a babywearing wrap. If you don’t need it, good for you. You can bless it to another mommy. But if you’re like us, and your baby craves that additional warmth from you to rest easy, here are 9 Babywearing Wraps that will be your lifesaver.

Photo Credit: Baby K’tan

#1 Baby K’Tan

One well-known baby carrier brand is the Baby K’tan Baby Carrier. It’s known for its patented double-loop design which works as a sling, wrap, and baby carrier. The carrier is also said to be easy to wear as you’d just need to “simply slip it on like a T-shirt in three simple steps”. The Baby K’Ta carrier is also recognised as a hip-healthy product by the Hip Dysplasia Institute when used in accordance with the instructions. And guess what? You can breastfeed in the Baby K’tan carrier too.

Pick up your carrier here.

Photo Credit: Amazon

#2 Boba Wrap

The Boba Wrap is said to be calming and comforting with a soft and versatile material. This carrier is an inward-facing one, and it is made from 95% French Terry Cotton with a hint of Spandex. The wrap can also be stretched four ways and the fabric will cling onto your body i.e. your baby will be firmly wrapped against your body. It is also a free-size carrier and has been certified by the International Hip Dysplasia Institute as Certified Hip Healthy. However, do note that the Boba Wrap is not available in Singapore.

Pick up your Boba Wrap here.

Photo Credit: Ergobaby

#3 Ergobaby Aura Baby Carrier Wrap

If this is your first time meandering a wrap, the Ergo Aura Baby Carrier Wraps is a good wrap to start with. The wrap is lightweight, made from breathable fabric, and features an integrated pocket at the front of the wrap for storage purposes. There are also helpful stitchings on the side of the rails which make it easier to navigate the wrapping process. The wraps are also made from eucalyptus and acacia and guess what, you can even nurse your baby in the wrap!

Pick up your carrier from Motherswork here.

Photo Credit: Happy Baby Carriers

#4 Happy Baby Wrap

If you’re a fan of minimalist designs, check out the Happy Baby Wrap. The wrap can be used for front (inward facing) and outward-facing. The Happy Baby Wrap is also fully adjustable and is lightweight and breathable. You also won’t require an infant insert whilst using the wrap and it is compliant with CPSIA and ASTM standards. If you’re looking to nurse with your wrap, the Happy Baby Wrap will work for you too.

Pick up your Happy Baby Wrap here.

Photo Credit: Japheth Chiara

#5 Japheth Chiara

#supportlocal. This is another wrap that we picked up for ourselves because we wanted to avoid dirtying the carrier (like we did with the Moby) every time we went out. Created by Rachel Min, Japheth Chiara was named after Rachel’s own children, Japheth and Chiara. Their carriers have also met the testing standards required for the US certification ASTM F2907 standard and have also been acknowledged as a hip-healthy baby product.

What we like about this carrier is how lightweight and portable it is. Their carriers are also made out of a mix of polyester and cotton with spandex, this makes the material breathable for your baby too. Although the carrier is said to be able to carry a baby up to 16kg, I’d admit that the carrier has not been able to support my baby’s weight as much as I’d like it to i.e. when in the carrier, my baby sits pretty low at my belly. However, do note that Japeth Chiara appears to only offer one carry position i.e. front-inward.

Pick up your carrier here.

Photo Credit: Lillebaby

#6 Lillebaby Tie The Knot Wrap

The Lillebaby Tie The Knot Wrap is a flexible wrap that comes with a comfortable back panel. It’s made with an all-natural fibre blend material (all-natural Supima Cotton and modal blend) that will keep your baby cool and comfortable throughout the day. It’s super easy to use. All you’ll have to do is slip the wrap over your head like a t-shirt.

Pick up your Lillebaby Wrap here.

Photo Credit: Minimonkey

#7 Minimonkey Mini Sling

A small and lightweight carrier, the Minimonkey Mini Sling is compact and allows you to carry your baby right from birth until they’re 15kg in weight. It’s also a one-size-fits-all carrier that is waterproof. That makes it perfect for use even in the shower, at the pool or on the beach! As your baby grows, you’d be able to adjust the carrier such that their legs spread and you can wear your baby on the hips.

Pick yours up from Motherswork here.

Photo Credit: Amazon (SG)

#8 Moby Classic Wrap

This was the very first baby wrap that we picked up for ourselves from Motherswork. Though not exactly the cheapest option available on the market, we liked that it was flexi-use. In the sense that either my husband and I could use it as it’s fashioned from one entire piece of cloth i.e. it really didn’t matter that we were of such different sizes, we both could use it anyway! We also like that we could adjust the tightness of the carrier according to our baby’s weight (8 to 35lbs) and size, so it’s “shelf-life” is lengthened considerably.

The only downside to this carrier is that it’s rather bulky (due to the extensive length of the wrap). Also, you’d have to form the wrap by yourself and hence, that makes it a little tough for use in public especially when you’re in need of a quick fix for your crying baby. So you’d risk the wrap getting slightly dirty in public when putting it together.

Pick it up from Amazon or Motherswork.

Photo Credit: Solly Baby

#9 Solly Baby

A global brand that has been named “Best Wrap” by the New York Time’s Wirecutter Magazine, and has been regularly featured in various prints, Solly Baby wraps have been loved by many around the world. Solly Baby prides itself on delivering thoughtful, beautiful and functional wraps. Their wraps are made from the finest knit fabrics available which are lightweight and are said to get softer with each wash! In terms of portability, the Solly Baby Wraps can be folded and tucked into your baby bag without much effort.

Pick it up from here.